What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

Wayne has the most homeowners (89.9%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hallowell	Wayne
People
Population	2,592Highest	1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.3±7.9Lowest 12% above ME	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME
	Wayne and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Wayne and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%	29.2%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Hallowell and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	48.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±6.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Wayne and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,398±$10kLowest 8% below ME	$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME
	Wayne and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,300±$45kLowest about the ME average	$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME
	Wayne and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME	$983±$554Highest 14% below ME
	Wayne and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,867Highest 27% above ME	$3,289Lowest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±17.9Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Hallowell and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 43% below ME	30 minHighest 24% above ME
Work from home	19.8%±8.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 02	RSU 38
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.